Alarm device specially adapted as fire signal



May 13 1924.

J. DUGGELIN ALARM DEVICE SPECIALLY ADAPTED AS FIRE SIGNAL Filed May 5 1922 Patented May 13, 1924i.

lTED STATES JOSE D'UGGELIN, OF SIEBNEN, SWITZERLAND.

ALARM DEVICE SPECIALLY ADAP'IED AS FIRE SIGNAL.

Application filed May 5,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnr Dt'IGGELIN, a citizen of the Swiss Confederation, residing at Siebnen, Switzerland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Alarm Devices Specially Adapted as Fire Signals,

of which the following is a specification.

Numerous forms of construction of fire alarm devices have already become known but none of the well known systems has, up to the present, found favour with the general public. The essential inconvenience connected with fire alarms of known type is that, in order to signal rapidly and etficaciously the outbreak of a fire, a good many of such apparatusses must be used in one room, which causes considerable expenses.

This invention relates to an alarm device specially designed to. serve as fire signal which however can be used also for signalling burglaries or the unauthorized presence of people in prohibited rooms. According to the invention means are inserted in a circuit of this alarm device which operate an alarm signal as soon as the current is interrupted, the conducting wire which forms the circuit being composed of several separate parts connected the one with the others by an easily fusible solder.

' The invention further relates to a device for automatically closing an alarm circuit, or other circuit, after the same has been interrupted.

In the drawing the figure shows diagrammatically the present invention.

The main circuit wire includes at intervals easily fusible connectors a which are located within a building so that when the latter catches fire these connectors will readily melt and break the circuit wire 6. Conducting wires are provided at intervals, as at Q, R, S, T and U, for connecting the main circuit wire to the respective contacts 9, r, s, t and u of an arcuate series which is arranged concentrically with the ratchet wheel w. The several'conducting or branch wires thus divide the main circuit wire into four parts I, II, III, IV, which may for convenience be designated as different rooms in a building. A spiral spring y is secured to the center n of the ratchet wheel for urging the latter in a clock-wise direction, which is restrained or under the control of a double pawl e rookably mounted as shown. An arm 21 is fixed to the pawl to swing with 1922. Serial No. 558,792,

the rocking thereof and carries on its low or free end an armature member a of an electromagnet 72,. The magnet is connected in circuit with the main circuit wire and the source of electrical energy 9. A substantially U-shape contact-bridging member a: is fixed to the ratchet wheel so that its arms extend radially therefrom for wiping contact with the arcuate series of contacts.

In operation, the norm ally energized magnet holds its armature attracted and thereby secures the ratchet wheel against rotation. Should the circuit be interrupted, as at p, the magnet will become deenergized and release the armature which will then swing or oscillate like a pendulum under the action of the escapement pawl z. This action will continue until the spring contact arms m move to the position shown in the drawing, in which position the contacts 25 and a are electrically connected and the circuit completed around the interruption. The magnet again becoming energized will arrest the rotation of the ratchet wheel. The particular type of signal or alarm may be varied according to the intended use of the device, but for purpose of illustration a signal lamp 0 is illustrated which is normally energized but becomes extinguished upon the interruption of the circuit. The exhaustion of the cell 9, where such source of electrical energy is utilized, is also signalled by this device.

I claim:

A device including a circuit, an arcuate series of contacts connected in the circuit at spaced intervals, circuit breaking means in the circuit between the contacts, a ratchet wheel journaled concentrically relative to the series of contacts, a normally energized. magnet in the circuit, a rocking escapement pawl cooperating with the ratchet to permit the latter to move intermittently, an arm carried by the pawl to swing therewith, an armature carried by the arm and adapted to be attracted by the magnet to arrest the pawl, and a U-shaped contact-bridging member carried by; the ratchet for electrically connecting predetermined contacts.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

J OSEF DUGGELIN.

Witnesses:

AUGUST Riinse, DORA GRAEF. 

